ImadeupmymindthatitwasofenoughimportancetocallforthebiggestprayerIcouldthinkofandthatIwouldgoupinthebarntothetopwindow，standonabeam，andturnmyfacetotheeast，whereJesususedtobe，andI’dwrestlewiththeLordforfreedom，asJacobwrestledwiththeAngelonthebanksoftheJabbokinthelandofAmmon。IwasjustgettingupsteamtoprayashardaseverIcould；fordaysI’dbeenthinkingofit，andI
　　wasnearlytothepointwhereonemorekilldeercryingacrosstheskywouldhavesentmeheadlongfromtheschoolhouseanywherethatmyfeetwereonearth，andtheairdidn’tsmelloffriedpotatoes，kraut，sweat，anddogs，likeitdidwheneveryousatbesideClarissaPolk。WhenIwenttosupperonenight；fatherhadbeentoGroveville，andhewasbusyoverhispapers。Afterhefinishedtheblessing，heseemedworried，atlasthesaidthefundswereallout，andthecountywouldmakenoappropriationsoschoolwouldhavetoclosenextweek。
　　Wellthatbeatsme！IhadfaithinthatprayerIwasgoingtomake，andheretheverythingIintendedtoaskforhappenedbeforeIprayed。IdecidedIwouldsavetheprayeruntilthenexttimeIcouldn’tstandanythinganotherminute，andthenI
　　wouldtryitwithallmymight，andseeifitreallydidanygood。AftersupperIwentoutthebackdoor，spreadmyarmswide，andrandowntheorchardtothefenceingreatbounds，thefastestIeverwentinmylife。Iclimbedmypulpitinthecornerandtriedtoseehowmuchairmylungswouldholdwithoutbursting，whileIwavedmyarmsandshoutedatthetopofmyvoice：“PraiseyetheLord！PraisedbeHisholyname！“
　　“Ker-awk！“criedanoldblueheronamongthecowslipsbelowme。
　　Ihadalmostscaredittodeath，anditaroseonflappingwingsandpaidmebackbyfrighteningmesoIscreamedasIdodgeditsshadow。
　　“Whatisallthis？“askedfatherbehindme。
　　“Comeupandtakeaseat，andI’lltrytotellyou，“Isaid。
　　Sohesteppedonmypulpitandsatonthetoprail，whileIstoodbetweenhisknees，putmyarmsaroundhisneck，tookoffhishatandloosenedhishairsothewindcouldwaveit，andmakehisheadfeelcoolandgood。Hishaircurledalittleanditwasblackandfine。Hischeekswerepinkandhiseyesthebrightestblue，withlonglashes，andheavierbrowsthananyothermanI
　　everhaveseen。Hewasthebestlooking——alwayssocleanandfresh，andyouneverhadtobeafraidofhim，unlessyouhadbeenabad，sinfulchild。Ifyouwereallright，youwouldwalkintohisarms，playwithhishair，kisshimallyoupleased，andtherewasn’tathingonearthyoucouldn’ttellhim，exceptingasecretyouhadpromisedtokeep。
　　SoIexplainedallthis，andmoretoo。AbouthowIwantedtohuntfortheflowers，toseewhichbloomedfirst，andwatchinwhatorderthebirdscame，andnowitwasasplendidtimetolocatenests，becausetherewerenoleaves，soIcouldseeeasily，andhowgladmotherwouldbetoknowwherethebluegoosenested，andherwhiteturkeyhen；becauseshewantedhergeeseallblue，andtheturkeysallwhite，asfastasshecouldmanage。
　　EverylittlethingthattroubledmeorthatIwanted，Itoldhim。
　　Hesatthereandhecouldn’thavelistenedwithmoreinterestorbeenquieterifIhadbeenabishop，whichisthebiggestthingthateverhappenedatourhouse；hisnamewasNindeandhecamefromChicagotodedicateourchurchwhenitwasnew。Sofatherlistenedandthoughtandheldhisarmsaroundme，and——
　　“AndyouthinktheLordwasatthebottomofthethingthatmakesyouhappy？“
　　“Well，youalwaysgotoHimaboutwhatconcernsyou，andyousay，`PraisetheLord，’whenthingsgotopleaseyou。“
　　“Idoindeed！“saidfather。“ButIhadthoughtofthisrunningshortofschoolfundsasacalamity。IfIhadbeenprayingaboutit，IwouldhaveaskedHimtoshowmeawaytoraisemoneytocontinueuntilmiddleMayatleast。“
　　“Ohfather！“
　　Ijustcrumpledupinhisarmsandbegantocry；tosavemeI
　　couldn’thelpit。Heheldmetight。Atlasthesaid：“Ithinkyouarealittleoverstrainedthisspring。Maybeyouweresickerthanweknew，oraregrowingtoofast。Don’tworryanymoreaboutschool。Possiblyfathercanfixit。“
　　NextmorningwhenIwakened，myeverydayclotheslayacrossthefootofthebed，soIcalledmotherandaskedifIshouldputthemon；shetookmeinherarms，andsaidfatherthoughtIhadbetterbeintheopen，andIneedn’tgotoschoolanymorethatspring。ItoldherIthoughtIcouldbearitafewmoredays，nowitwasgoingtobeoversosoon；butshesaidImightstayathome，fatherandLaddiewouldhearmeatnight，andIcouldtakemybooksanywhereIpleasedandstudywhenIchose，ifIhadmyspellingandreadinglearnedatevening。NOW，saytheLorddoesn’thelpthosewhocallonHiminfaithbelieving！
　　Thinkofbeingallowedtolearnyourlessonsonthetopofthegranary，whereyoucouldlookoutofawindowabovethetreetops，lieinthecoolwind，andwatchswallowsandmartins。Thinkofstudyinginthepulpitwhenthecreekranhigh，andthewildbirdssangsosweetlyyouseemedtohearthemforthefirsttimeinallyourlife，andhens，guineas，andturkeysmadeprimemusicintheorchard。Youcouldseethebudsswell，andthelittleblueflagspushthroughthegrass，whereMrs。Mayerhadherflowerbed，andthecowslipsgreeningunderthewateroftheswaleatthefootofthehill，whiletheremightbeaFairyunderanyleaf。Iwassofull，soswelledupandexcited，thatwhenIgotreadytopickupabook，Icouldlearnalessoninafewminutes，tellallaboutit，spelleveryword，andreaditback，front，andsideways。Ineverlearnedlessonssoquickandsoeasyinallmylife；father，Laddie，andeveryoneofthemhadtosayso。Onenight，fathersaidtoLaddie：“Thischildisfurnishingevidencethatourschoolsystemiswrong，andourmethodsofteachingfarfromright。“
　　“Orisitmerelyproofthatsheisdifferent，“saidLaddie，“andyoucan’trunherthroughthesamegrooveyoucouldtherestofus？“
　　“Alittleofboth，“saidfather，“butmostthatthesystemiswrong。Wearenotgoingatchildreninawaytogainandholdtheirinterest，andmakethemlovetheirwork。Theremustbeabetterwayofteaching，andweshouldfinddifferentteachers。
　　You’llhavetotrytheschoolnextyearyourself，Laddie。“
　　“IhavealittleplanaboutapieceoflandIamhopingtotakebeforethen，“answeredLaddie。“It’stimeformetotrymywingsatmakingaliving，andlandismychoice。Ihavefullydecided。
　　Isticktothesoil！“
　　“Amen！“criedfather。“Youpleasememightily。Ihatetoseesonsofminethrivingonlaw，literallymakingtheirlivingoutofthefruitofothermen’sdiscord。Idislikeseeingthemsharpentheirwitsintrade，buyingatthelowestlimit，extortingthehighest。Idon’twanttheirhorizonslimitedbycityblocks，theirfeetonpavements，everythingunderthesunintheirheadsthatconcernsaschemetomakemoney；notroomforanhour’sthoughtorstudyinawholeday，aboutthereallyvitalthingsoflife。Afterall，landanditsproductsarethebasisofeverything；thecitycouldn’texistadayunlesswefeedandclotheit。InthethingsthatIconsiderimportant，youareakingamongmen，withyourfeetonsoilyouown。“
　　“SoIfigureit，“saidLaddie。
　　“AndyouarethebesteducatedmanIhavereared，“saidfather。
　　“Takethisotherthoughtwithyou：onland，thefailureofthebankdoesnotbreakyou。Thefireanotherman’scarelessnessstarts，doesnotwipeoutyourbusinessorhome。Youarenotineasyreachofcontagion。Anytimeyouwanttobranchout，yourmotherandIwillstandbackofyou。“
　　“Thankyou！“saidLaddie。“Youbackednoneoftheothers。Theywouldresentit。I’llmakethebeststartIcanmyself，andastheydid，standalone。“
　　Fatherlookedathimandsmiledslowly。
　　“Youareright，asalways，“hesaid。“Ihadn’tthoughtsofar。
　　Itwouldmaketrouble。Atanyrate，letmeinspectandhelpyouselectyourland。“
　　“Thatofcourse！“saidLaddie。
　　Isuspectit’snotaverynicethingformetotell，butallofusweretickledsillythedayMissAmeliapackedhertrunkandleftforsure。Mothersaidshenevertriedharderinallherdays，butMissAmeliawasthemostdistinctlyunlovablepersonsheeverhadmet。Shesympathizedwithusso，sheneversaidawordwhenLeonsang：
　　“Believeme，ifallthoseendearingyoungcharms，WhichIgazeonsofondlyto-day，Weretochangebyto-morrow，andfleetinmyarms，Likefairy-giftsfadingaway，Thouwouldststillbeadored，asthismomentthouart，Letthylovelinessfadeasitwill，AndaroundthedearruineachwishofmyheartWouldentwineitselfverdantlystill——“
　　whileMissAmeliadrovefromsightuptheGrovevilleroad。
　　AshesangLeonstretchedouthisarmsafterhervanishingform。
　　“Ihope，“hesaid，“thatyoucaughtthattouchingreferenceto`thedearruin，’andcouldanythingbeexpressedmorebeautifullyandpoeticallythanthat`verdantlystill？’“
　　Ifeelsorryforasnake。Ilikehoptoads，owls，andshitepokes。
　　Ienvyabuzzardthewayitcanfly，andpolecatsarebeautiful；
　　butInevercouldgetupanysortoffeelingatallforMissAmelia，whethershewasbirdlikeorhertrueself。SonoonewasanygladderthanIwhenshewasgone。
　　Afterthat，springcamepushinguntilyoufeltshoved。Ourfamilyneededmethen。Iftheyneverhadknownitbefore，theyfoundouttherewasnonetoomanyofus。EverydayIhadtowatchthebluegoose，andbringinhereggbeforeitwaschilled，carryingitcarefullysoitwouldnotbejarred。Ihadtohunttheturkeynestsandgathertheireggssotheywouldberightforsetting。Therehadtobestrawcarriedfromthestackfornewnests，eggsmarked，andhenssetbythedozen。Gardentimecame，soleaveshadtoberakedfromthebedsandfromthedooryard。
　　NoonewasbusierthanI；buteverylittlewhileIranaway，andspentsometimeallbymyselfinthepulpit，underthehawkoak，orontheroof。
　　ComingfromchurchthatSunday，whenwereachedthetopoftheBigHill，mothertouchedfather’sarm。“Stopaminute，“shesaid，andhecheckedthehorses，whilewesatthereandwonderedwhy，asshelookedandlookedalloverthefarm，then，“NowdrivetothetopoftheLittleHillandturn，andstopexactlyontheplacefromwhichwefirstviewedthislandtogether，“shesaid。
　　“Youknowthespot，don’tyou？“
　　“YoumaywellbelieveIknowit，“saidfather。“Icanhitittotheinch。Yousee，children，“hewenton，“yourmotherandI
　　arrangedbeforethewordsweresaidoverus“——healwaysputitthatway——Ineverinmylifeheardhimsay，“whenweweremarried“；hereadsomanybookshetalkedexactlylikeabook——
　　“thatwewouldbepartnersineverything，aslongaswelived。
　　WhenwedecidedtheOhiolandwasnotquitewhatwewanted，shesentmefartherwesttoprospect，whileshestayedathomeandkeptthebaby。WhenIreachedthisland，founditforsale，andwithinmymeans，Iboughtit，andstartedhomehappy。BeforeI’dgoneamile，Iturnedtolookback，andsawthatitwashilly，mostlywoods，andtherewasnocomputingtheamountofworkitwouldrequiretomakeitwhatIcouldseeinit；soIbegantothinkmaybeshewouldn’tlikeit，andtowishIhadbroughther，beforeIclosedthedeal。BythetimeIreturnedhome，packedup，andtravelledthisfaronthewaybackwithher，therewasconsiderabletensioninmyfeelings——considerabletension，“
　　repeatedfatherasheturnedthehorsesandbegandrivingcarefully，measuringthedistancefromHoods’andthebridge。Atlasthestopped，backedastep，andsaid：“There，mommy，didI
　　hitthespot？“
　　“Youdid！“saidmother，steppingfromthecarriageandwalkingupbesidehim。Sheraisedonehandandlaiditonthelampnearhim。Heshiftedthelines，pickedupherhand，andheldittight。Motherstoodtherelooking，justsilentlylooking。Mayjabbedmeintheside，leanedoverandwhispered：
　　“CouldwebutstandwhereMosesstood，Andviewthelandscapeo’er，NotourLittleCreek，nordinnergettingcold，Couldfrightusfromthatshore。“
　　Icouldn’thelpgiggling，butIknewthatwasnopropertime，soIhidmyheadinherlapandsmotheredthesoundthebestI
　　could；buttheyweresobusysoft-sodderingeachothertheydidn’tpayabitofattentiontous。
　　ItwasMaynow，alltheleaveswerefreshanddustless，everythingthatfloweredatthattimewasweightedwithbloom，beeshummedpast，butterfliessailedthroughthecarriage，whilebirdsatthetopsoftheirvoices，allofthem，everykindtherewas，sangfittosplit；friendly，unafraidbluebirdsdartedaroundus，andtalkedabluestreakfromeveryfencerider。Madeyoualmostcrazytoknowwhattheysaid。TheLittleCreekflowedatourfeetacrosstheroad，throughtheblue-flagswamp，wheretheredandtheyellowbirdslived。YoucouldseethesunflashonthewaterwhereitemptiedintothestreamthatcrossedDeams’，andflowedthroughourpasture；andawaybeyondtheBigHillarose，withthenewchurchontop，thegraveyardaroundit，theBigCreekflashingatitsbase。Inthevalleybetweenlayourfields，meadows，thebigredbarn，thewhitehousewiththeyardfilledwithtreesandfloweringshrubs，beyonditthegarden，allmadeup，neatandgrowing；andbackofittheorchardinfullbloom。
　　Motherlookedandlooked。Suddenlysheraisedherfacetofather。“Paul，“shesaid，“thatfirstday，didyoueverdreamitcouldbemadetolooklikethis？“
　　“No！“saidfather。“Ineverdid！Isawhouses，barns，andclearedfields；Ihopedforcomfortandprosperity，butIdidn’tknowanyplacecouldgrowtobesobeautiful，andthereissomethingaboutit，evenonarainyNovemberday，thereissomethingthatcatchesmeinthebreast，onthetopofeitherofthesehills，untilitalmoststiflesme。Whatisit，Ruth？“
　　“TheHomeFeeling！“saidmother。“ItisinmyheartsobigthismorningIamfilledwithworship。Justfilledwiththespiritofworship。“
　　ShewasrockingonhertoeslikeshedoeswhenshebecomestoohappyattheMeetingHousetobequietanylonger，andcries，“Glory！“rightoutloud。Shepointedtotheorchard，animmenseorchardofbigappletreesinfullbloom，withtworowsofpeachtreesaroundthesides。Itlookedlikeagreat，soft，pinkishwhiteblanket，withadeeppinkborder，spreadlightlyonthegreenearth。
　　“Weplantedthatwaybecausewethoughtitwasbest；howcouldweknowhowitwouldlookinbloomtime？Itseemsasifyoucametothesehilltopsandfiguredonthepictureyouwouldmakebeforeyoucleared，orfencedafield。“
　　“That’sexactlywhatIdid，“saidfather。“Many’sthehour，alltold，thatIhavestoppedmyhorseononeofthesehilltopsandstudiedhowtomaketheplacebeautiful，aswellasproductive。
　　Thatwasataskyousetme，mygirl。YoualwaysconsideredBEAUTYaswellasUSEaboutthehouseandgarden，andwhereveryouworked。Ihadtoholdmypartinline。“
　　“Youhavemadeitallagarden，“saidmother。“YouhavemadeitagardengrowingunderthesmileoftheMaster；averygardenoftheLord，father。“
　　Fatherdrewupherhandandheldittightagainsthisheart。
　　“Yourpraiseissweet，mygirl，sweet！“hesaid。“Ihavetried，GodknowsIhavetried，tomakeitfirstcomfortable，thenbeautiful，forallofus。TothedepthsofmysoulIthankHimforthishour。Iamglad，OhIamsogladyoulikeyourhome，Ruth！Icouldn’tendureitifyoucomplained，foundfaultandwishedyoulivedelsewhere。“
　　“Why，father！“saidmymotherinthemostsurprisedvoice。“Why，father，itwouldkillmetoleavehere。Thisisours。WehavemadeitbyandthroughthestrengthoftheLordandourloveforeachother。AllmydaysIwanttolivehere，andwhenIdie，I
　　wanttoliebesidemyblessedbabiesandyou，Paul，downbythechurchwegavethelandfor，andworkedsohardtobuild。Iloveit，OhIloveit！Seehowcleanandwhitethedarkevergreensmakethehouselook！Seehowthebigchestnutsfitinandpointouttheyellowroad。Iwishwehadarowthelengthofit！“
　　“Theywouldn’tgrow，“saidfather。“YoumindthetimeIhadfindingtheplacethosewantedtosettheirfeet？“
　　“Idoindeed！“saidmother，drawingherhandandhiswithitwhereshecouldrubhercheekagainstit。“Nowwe’llgohomeandhaveourdinnerandagoodrest。I’mahappywomanthisday，father，ahappy，happywoman。Ifonlyonethingdidn’tworryme——“
　　“Musttherealwaysbea`flyintheointment，’mother？“
　　Shelookedathimwithasmilethatwaslikeahugandkiss，andshesaid：“Ihavefounditso，father，andIhavebeenhappyinspiteofit。Whereonehassuchwideinterests，atsomepointthereisalwaysapull，butinHisownday，inHisownway，theLordisgoingtomakeeverythingright。“
　　“`Thyfaithhathmadetheewhole，’“quotedfather。